Randy "The Natural" Couture Returns to UFC to Take on Brock Lesnar at UFC 91

He's back!

Randy Couture will make his return to the UFC (after a highly publicized legal battle with the promotion) at UFC 91 on Nov. 15.

The fight could be the biggest fight in the history of the UFC, not only because of Couture's popularity and the fact that fight fans want to see him in the octagon again, but also because of his opponent: Brock Lesnar.

Lesnar is a huge draw because of the built-in fanbase that he brings with him from professional wrestling. He may well go on to be one of the best fighters the sport has ever seen, and Couture is already held in such regard.

The fight could be billed as Past vs. Future, New vs. Old, and so on and so on.

The event, which was rumored to take place in Portland, Oregon, will take place in Las Vegas, the home base of the UFC.

It looks like the end of the legal battle between Couture and the UFC. Until this announcement was made, the two sides were in arbitration hearings to determine whether or not Couture could fight outside of the UFC.

In Couture's absence, the UFC had crowned Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira heavyweight champion. Nogueira was scheduled to fight Frank Mir for the title in December.

Since Couture is back he retains the title and will defend it against Lesnar instead. The Nogueira/Mir fight will still take place, with the winner of that fight facing the winner of the Couture/Lesnar fight sometime in 2009.

With Lesnar's record of (only) 2-1, some may find it strange that he is being allowed a shot at the title. But once again the UFC is doing a great job of making the fights that fans want to see.

What else could this fight lead to? Couture vs. Nogueira, or Mir? Maybe this opens the door for Fedor Emelianenko to come to the UFC. Maybe the fight can finally be made between him and Randy Couture, or Brock Lesnar. Or Lesnar and Nogueira.

Dana White could just put all of those names in a hat and draw them out to see which fights should be made. Any of those would be a huge draw.

No matter how things turn out, this is a much needed shot in the arm for the Heavyweight division of the UFC.